Thread: towing

I have an air rear suspension Discovery 2a.

I don't think you can/should use the level rides with the air suspension. What happens is the level rides effectively form a bridge between the front wheels of the car and the trailer axles to take weight off the rear of the car and level the rig. With air suspension there a car is kept level by valve controlled by a little arm connected from the body to the suspension and the that relationship is kept by putting more air or less in the airbag. As you go over bumps air escapes from the bag and more air goes in until the little arm tells it to stop.

The issue I have with air suspension and level rides is that you take the weight off the rear end and then there is less air pressure in the airbags because the level rides effectively hold this axle to body relationship in an unnatural position. You could have a situation where you have very little pressure in the bag, making the axle 'hang' under the body, esp. on uneven ground or change in camber. Come to a corner, slight camber change and the caravan would then jackknife the car.

I know of this situation happening on a Discovery with a large caravan at 40kph on a tight camber changing harpin type turn, although the owner swore it could not have been this but could not explain it any other way.

NOTE: This is only an opinion and am happy to have me proved wrong/debate/discuss. I aint that precious!

you will find this has been discussed here before.

Towing logic is not what this is about. The discovery air suspension is totally different to previous air suspensions. LR clearly states - do not use WDH, and to add to the story, the LR hitch is not able to handle the added stresses.

Hope this stops any unneccessary argument on this one!!!